Conservatives lay out a coalition challenge
Opposition leaders have fired a starting pistol on this year’s local election campaign, claiming they would be prepared to form a coalition to oust Sunderland’s ruling Labour Party.
Wearside’s Conservative group have laid down an early marker with the challenge, as well as a manifesto promising policies such as a ‘rat action plan’, cuts to councillor payments and calls for a directlyelected mayor.
However,theyalsoconcededtheywereyettoconfirmany agreement which might put them in a position to cut such a deal, come polling day.
Group leader Antony Mullen said: “There is a very real chance we will be the largest party in a coalition running the council after May.
“It remains to be seen if the other opposition parties in the city would side with us or Labour,shouldweenter‘nooverall control.
“Our manifesto therefore offersavisionofhowwewould aimtogetthebasicsright,with cleanerstreets,saferroadsand decision-making in the hands of the people.”
Sunderland City Council is made up of 75 councillors, meaning at least 38 are needed to form a governing majority.
Labour currently has 48 sitting councillors, meaning it would be mathematically possible to oust the ruling party if it loses in at least 11 of the 28 seatsupforgrabsonThursday, May 6.
In the highly unlikely situation
the Conservatives managed to win all 28, combined with their current tally of 12 councillors, they would be just overthethresholdof38needed for a majority.
OtherpartiescurrentlyrepresentedinSunderlandarethe Liberal Democrats, with eight councillors, and UKIP, which has three.
The Green Party’s sole councillor recently resigned his seat.
CurrentlydesignatedWearside’s majority opposition party, the Conservatives’ election manifesto has policies including a new city centre leisure centre and a town council for Washington.